didn't take care of myself and now it's a problem

[pelagia]

  I had great news today 

The orthopedist doesn't think I need shoulder surgery after all, despite what the radiologist said about my MRI.

I had a shot of cortisone this morning and will start physical therapy soon.

This is such a relief 

[willieandwinnie]

pelagia  that is wonderful news. Anytime you can avoid going under the knife is a blessing. 

[monrein]

   That is good news.  A good physiotherapist is worth their weight in gold as long as you actually do what they suggest in the way of strengthening exercises.

[rose1999]

Great news  I am really pleased to hear that.
Mine is no better, the Dr said to give the anti inflammatories at least 2 weeks (it's been 3), I'll give it another week or so and then go back.  But whatever happens to mine I am really pleased for you that you have avoided surgery. 

[pelagia]

Rose -

I had a bad bout of arthritis in my neck in 2006 and was taking anti-inflammatories for that. It took a dose 2x what was originally prescribed and for 2x as long to clear it up.  I think the dose ended up being 500 mg naproxen sodium 2x a day for 4 weeks.  The good news is that after having a sore neck for over a year, the problem has still not come back.  You can also try taking fish oil or flax capsules for inflammation issues.  I read that they work almost as well as nsaids if you give them enough time - more like a couple of weeks.  I am now taking 1000 mg fish oil and 1000 mg flax oil each day.  I am also taking glucosamine, which my doc says can work miracles for about 50% of arthritis sufferers.  I think it's helping my joints, but I've only been taking that for a few weeks.  Okay, probably TMI!

[rose1999]

Oh I've got some flax seed oil capsules (I hate fish oil ones as I can taste them all day and I''m not fond of the taste  ) I'll start taking them again, I hadn't thought of that.  Thanks for the advice.  Will let you know how I go, but I hope you continue to  improve.

[pelagia]

Oops, in my post below I should have said that the results of taking fish and flax may be seen within a few months, not weeks.

[pelagia]

Here's another update, which I am posting mostly because it's so strange.  I am actually starting to feel better.

I've been to physical therapy 3x now.  They are really helping, but every time I go I learn something new about how screwed up my shoulder is.  Turns out that the arthritis in my neck, which I mentioned in an earlier post, was probably exacerbated by problems that began lower in my back.  The muscles supporting my thoracic vertebrae are screwed up, which forces me to do things from my cervical vertebrae that should be done down lower.  While the course of naproxen sodium I took in 2006 quieted down the joint inflammation, the muscles in my neck are still screwed up two years later.  So now a suite of muscles - from my upper back, neck and area under my right arm - are all out of whack.  These various muscles interact to control the position of my shoulder blade and the relationship between my humerus and my shoulder.  The top of the humerus pops out when it should be rotating. I have to do exercises to "teach" it to do the right thing again.  It's actually the lateral back muscles pulling that are causing the "referred pain" in my upper arm. But, the great news is that I was able to put my right hand on my hip today for the first time in months. 

Moral of the story - way too much time at the computer, mixed with a good dose of stress and an acute injury can lead to a totally screwed up shoulder.  They have me setting a timer for every 15 minutes at which point I have to stop and move.  I'm sure I am driving the folks in the neighboring offices crazy!

[rose1999]

so pleased that you are staring to feel better, I had been wondering about physiotherapy as I am now able to move my arm less, I can't move it behind me very far at all. Hearing what you've said, I'm going to get an appointment.  Please continue to get better and let us know how you are 

[monrein]

It is always amazing to me that the pain we feel in one place can be coming from a completely different spot.  So glad the physio is helping and that you're having greater mobility with your arm Pelagia. 

[pelagia]

 

I had been wondering about physiotherapy as I am now able to move my arm less, I can't move it behind me very far at all. Hearing what you've said, I'm going to get an appointment. 

Rose, better deal with this because you could end up with a locked shoulder and a lot more problems.  You should be able to slide the arm around back and then all the way up to the bra clasp.  I have gotten as far as the center of my back at the waistband level this week after I loosen up for 15 minutes or so. 

[annabanana]

Linda, how great that you found out what's causing the problems and how to fix them. Fascinating story, too. So glad you're better! and don't have to have surgery. 

[twirl]

anna       hello

[pelagia]

Hey Rose, here's an update on the my shoulder.  Thanks for asking.  I thought it was better to put it here than in your thread.  It's a long and sordid tale.

At the beginning the physical therapy was helping.  Then things slowed down.  What happened next was unexpected.  Hurricane Gustav knocked a tree over in our yard.  What does that have to do with my shoulder, you say?

Well, picture me walking up the angled trunk in an attempt to move a branch off the cable TV wire.  Stephen is not home.  Now picture me falling (yes, I know what you're thinking...)!  I managed to catch my arm on another branch and "oh sh$t" was all I could think as I was dangling by my arm.  Yes, it hurt.  I went inside, took advil and iced it.  The next morning I was fixing my hair and, wonder of all wonders, I had my arm up over my head before I even realized it.  Apparently I broke up some adhesions.  From the beginning of physical therapy until just before the tree incident, my angle of rotation in one direction went from 125 to 147 degrees.  After the fall (three days between measurements from Friday to Monday) I was at 175! More rotation than I'd accomplished during therapy.  Just for comparison, my other arm goes past 185.

Unfortunately, I'm not making much progress since then and especially with getting my arm behind my back. And now the physical therapists have thrown me out!  Said they couldn't do any more for me.  Whenever they were "pushing" me in therapy I would get tingling in my fingers.  That made them very nervous since it implies some nerve impingement that they don't want to mess with. 

I don't know what to do next.  The therapists sent a report to the orthopedist.  He's the one who said I didn't need surgery at the beginning.  I may just keep working on it for a few months and see if it makes a difference. I'm not in pain anymore unless I try to reach up in the back. Loads of people have told me that it can take a really long time for this sort of problem to get better.  I think if I went for surgery now I would just have to start all over again.

[willieandwinnie]

Linda, tell Stephen that you have got to get a hot tub.  I have had back surgeries and I can tell you, if you get in the hot tub and let the jets do their trick as you are moving your arm against water, it works wonders. Ask your doctor, mine gave me a prescription and we deducted it off our income taxes. Let me know how it works out and stay out of trees or off of trees in your case. 

[rose1999]

Hi Linda, well what are you like  sorry but the thought of you walking up that trunk, oh  just trying to picture it has made me smile.  What a strange thing the fall did too and in all seriousness I am so glad you didn't damage yourself.  I'm sorry that you aren't getting any better though, getting my arm behind my back is my problem too.  After 3 lots of physio (half an hour each time) I can now stretch my arm up as high as the 'good' one, I couldn't do that before and I can brush my hair etc, it's just getting it behind my back that is the problem, but I guess that will come. 

My physio is great, he worked with the British Olympic team back in 2000 and has worked with football clubs too so he's used to all sorts of injuries, rater than the local hospital physios who are more used to working with people who have had strokes etc.  I have some ultrasound treatment, a shoulder massage and then he stretches my arm - I don't feel a thing by then as I'm so relaxed.    Looks like it will take some time yet though.  I also have exercises to do with a stretchy band over the door, trying to stretch the tendon.  AT least I know what it is now, the Dr didn't do any xrays or scans, now I've had a scan I know exactly what is wrong.

I rally do hope you willmake some progress, I know that compared to what a lot of people have to cope with it is no big deal, but that doesn't make it any better when you;re trying to fasten your bra strap or get your arm in your coat does it?

I'll let you know how I get on, please keep us posted on your progress.
Sending you a hug (with my good arm!) 
Rose xx
p.s. Love the idea of a hot tub - wish we had the weather for it, at present we have snow in October! 

[pelagia]

Thanks to both of you for the well wishes.  I like the hot tub idea too W&W, but I think they told Stephen that he shouldn't go in hot tubs now that he has a transplant.  Maybe if it was our own and we knew how well it was being cleaned it would be okay.

[pelagia]

Well, it's been five months of working on my shoulder by myself and I feel really optimistic.  I still have not attained the full range of motion, but it is far better than it was when I last posted.  Yes, everything I read was correct - "frozen shoulder" does take a long time to defrost.  I can now get my right hand about half-way up my back and I can do a downward facing dog (yoga) without pain.  I went out and did some gardening today.  That felt good.  I also started back at an aerobics class.  The painful shoulder was turning me into a slug, which means that I was putting on pounds.  It feels great to be moving past that stage.

[Zach]

Excellent!

Have you tried using the Thera-Band in your physical therapy?
http://www.yogadirect.com/yoga_thera_bands.html?gclid=COOY0uCCyZkCFQienAoduU6csw

 

[pelagia]

Yes, I switch back and forth between bands and 3 lb weights, which I think means I am working most of the different muscle groups effectively.  I've also spent some time trying to strengthen my ever weakening core muscles.  The therapists said weak abdominals and improper use of my back muscles were partially the cause of my shoulder problem.  Too much desk time!

[MiSSis]

You'll probably laugh at this but I've been looking for ways to exercise that make it fun for me because I essentially hate to exercise.  So I had my husband go to Toys R Us and buy me a Hula Hoop.  After he brought it home, I was checking on the internet and found out that there really are hula hoops designed for adults for core and abdominal strengthening.  These are weighted so they provide a better workout than the children's model like I have.  So as soon as I master the kid's one, I think I'll upgrade to the adult model.  I can stand and "hula" while watching TV which makes it more interesting. 

I remember this being soooooooo much easier when I was a kid!!   

[kitkatz]

I bought a jump-rope and am planning to slowly jump-rope on my off gym days.

[MiSSis]

I don't think I could jump rope to save my soul.  My legs are so weak.  Along with my hula hoop I also got my husband to buy me what's called a Skip-It.  It's another kids toy that's a small hoop that goes around your ankle and has a ball tethered to the end of a line.  On TV it shows kids jumping with these just like a jump rope.  I, on the other hand, can only step over it so it's more like marching.  I'm hoping to improve but I've only had it for a couple of days now.  I sure can feel the ache in my thighs so I guess it's working!

[pelagia]

My recollection from about 5 years ago is that hula hoops are hard work.  But, maybe I should give it a try.  I saw a clip of a kid on Ellen Degeneres doing about a gazillion hula hoops at the same time. 

Here he is!  I found him on youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfdMvfRg-5s

[rose1999]

Hi Linda, hope things are still improving for you.  I'm not sure if I told you but I now have laser treatment on my shoulder and it's made a huge difference, no pain at all and almost full movement - I just can't quite get it as far up my back as I could.  I can do yoga with no pain and can stretch out for things (like tickets at hospital car park barriers!!).  It's cost me a fortune as I've had to pay privately but it's been well worth it.  I'm off for another session at 8.30 this morning. 

The hula hoop sounds like fun - perhaps I should get one now I'm redundant and (in theory) have more time